Singapore, you gotta visit lah

Singapore or Singapura to the locals, is a delightful mix of south Indian, Malay, Chinese, Indonesian and western culture. I visited here in 2019 on my way to Canada. An Indian passport gets you 4 days of visa free transit to this little island nation in southeast Asia. For all you travelers, people might tell you different, but if you rally, 4 days is enough time to explore all that Singapore has to offer.

Singapore has a little bit of everything for everyone - the foodie, the architecture nerd, the outdoorsy type, the party animal, and the tourist - everything with its own Singaporean twist. It's like New York, except people are much friendlier and will actually talk to you! You can definitely get by in Singapore with just English, thanks to the tons of expats from the west who have come here to seek fine fortune.

Singapore is expensive, yet cheap, if you know what you are doing. And some of the best attractions in Singapore are completely free!

Public transport was fairly priced, I bought a Singapore Travel Pass at about SGD30 I think which was way more than sufficient. There is no Uber in Singapore [which I did not know], but they do have something called Grab which is not cheap, but cheaper than getting a taxi. One surprising thing for me was how cheap cell phone plans were! Singapore does have plenty of free Wi-Fi, but For SGD 12, a 7-day validity period, 50GB data [not a typo!] and calling I decided to get myself one.

There are plenty of online posts about what to do in Singapore. I did almost all of them, but here is a list of what I think makes Singapore unique.

The Marina Bay Sands: A night will cost you about 350 USD. Very expensive, I know, but did you even go to Singapore if you did not visit the rooftop Infinity pool? Only guests are allowed access to the pool, and a proper photograph and a sunset view while sipping a cocktail by the pool was hard to beat.

Gardens by the Bay: Do not miss the late evening light and music shows, free of cost. It is truly a spectacle. The not-free attractions are two indoor flower gardens/museums which are pretty, but you aren't missing much if you did not make it inside.

Jewel at the Changi: How someone managed to erect a 100-foot waterfall right between the terminals and exits is beyond my architectural comprehension. Kudos to those engineers. Visited by locals and tourists alike.

Hawker Centers: You find almost every type of Asian cuisine here, with a Singaporean twist, plus your wallet will thank you.

Clarke Quay: The most famous of the quays, the Singapore bar scene. A pint is 500ml and will cost you 10

SGD. You usually have to pay to get in [at least guys do] at the dance clubs, and try to look the part. Was definitely quite busy during a weekday night, I think Wednesdays are ladies night. Definitely brings in the crowd.

Raffles Hotel: This is where the Singapore sling was invented. If you are into craft cocktails, definitely head out here for one these. Very refreshing! At SGD 25, it better be!

Sentosa Island: A mini theme park of sorts maybe? A family-ish environment with a bit for adults and kids alike. Nothing you would not find in another other part of the world.

Botanical Gardens: If you like a sweaty, unpleasant walk and want to experience how horrible Singapore humidity can be, go here mid-day like I did. Otherwise, go early morning for a much better experience.

Merlion Park: Also a night spot, go for the light show from across the bay. Not as good as Vegas or Atlantic City or Macau, but they definitely tried. It's free and the good seats definitely get taken if you go a little too late.

Definitely walk around Bujis, Orchard street for those who like to spend over 500 USD on a handbag, Little India and China Town and so much more of the Instagram worthy spots Singapore has to offer.

Singapore, in my books is definitely the land of immigrants. And they do immigration right! Watch out America. Also, they have almost no homeless people. Tells you much about the country doesn't it?

Big shout to Lana Mason, Fabian Kroenig, Shini for the amazing time, travel stories, boozy nights and food cravings. Shini is a Singaporean I met during my trip! Lana is from Guernsey, a tiny, yet beautiful island off the coast of Normandy [although still controlled by the British]. Thanks for the little geography lesson and teaching me to drop peanut shells on the floor at the Raffles. Fabian is one of the coolest Swiss people I know! He's originally from Zermatt, Switzerland, but traded the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps for the beautiful beaches and warm weather in Bali. He runs The Hideout Hostel, an amazing yoga and surf hostel right off pristine waters in Canguu. Go visit!

Singapura, I’ll be back. Okay, lah?